3D Cozy Kitty Luminaire

Project Description:

Designed to hold an LED Tea Light, this 3D Cozy Kitty along with her partner, 3D Classy Cat make a terrific Halloween decor pairing for your mantle, window sill or table top. Turn on the light and the eyes glow. Change out the ribbon or the paper color and use these kitties year round.

This tutorial is for the 3D Cozy Kitty. When complete she stands approximately 5" tall x 7" w x 4" d. There is another tutorial for the 3D Classic Cat as well.

Steps for completing the 3D Cozy Kitty:

1. Download the cutting files for your cutting machine. The files are available here.

2. Load the files into your cutting software following the steps for your cutting machine.

3. Prepare the files:.

Click here for detailed steps on how to use .SVG files on your Silhouette (with Design Studio).

Click here for steps on how to use these .SVG files in Design Space with your Cricut Explore.

4. Cut the files from the card stock of your choice. I especially liked these cats in black for Halloween however I have photographed the tutorial with gray paper because it is much easier to photograph.

Run a line of Scor-Tape along the outside edge of the entire row of tabs. I use Scor-Tape because I can quickly lay it out and peel the backing. Other adhesives in your collection are appropriate as well. On different pieces you may need to snip the tape in a few places, but if you do this after peeling, you save time.

Side #1 circles the head shape on the cat back. You position it so the tabs are to the inside and the edge aligns with the outside rim.

Start at the bottom of the head so there will be no split on the top.

Bend and adhere the edge strip all the way around.

It will create a complete circle with the bottom edge over-lapping itself. This gives a strong platform to hold the LED tea-light when complete.

Prepare side strip #2 the same way you did #1 by folding the tabs in one direction and adding Score-Tape. The direction you bend the tabs depends on whether you want a left or right facing kitty. The tabs are to be bent inward so align your strip with the cat back and see which direction is correct.

Once you add an LED light to the top of this kitty, she will become top heavy. In order to prevent that, hot-glue some weights into the base of the back piece. (Don"t put them in the front piece!) This can be some washers or nuts, a few nickels or even a small bag of sand. Use something that is easily available to you.

6. Construct the front half of the kitty.

Start by cutting colored tissue paper to cover the inside of the eyes and nose.

Glue that in place using a glue like Zig 2 way glue pen.

Be sure to add glue to the center of the eye to hold them to the tissue paper.